The Wee Ones :)

What is it about kids that just makes you smile? I can't say for sure, but I know that that is true.

I write with two (recent) examples.

Number one; I was linesman in a Major Atom B game the other night. (Atom is 10 and 11 year olds, and "Major" indicates that it was a competitive game.) As a linesman I have to tell everyone on the ice when a team (depending on which end I have, and they play is in) is onside or offside*.

It's something as simple as yelling (or in my case "projecting my voice") "No!" or "Clear!" when they're onside, and washing out at the blue-line (which is like the "safe**" signal in baseball). And "Offside!" repeatedly until they are once again onside, when you then say "Good!" or "Clear!"

When you officiate hockey at the Novice level (ages 8 and 9), they sometimes need a little more encouragement. To get them to respond to being offside (which they haven't the faintest about) you need to yell numbers, names and colours, and tell them to "get out." To get them to go back in it's "ok, you're good," "go go go!" and "go get 'em!" :)

Anyway... After doing this a few times in front of the visiting team's bench, the back-up goalie leans over the boards and says, "You got some lungs on you!" It was the cutest thing EVER! I couldn't turn and face him, but I thanked him, and couldn't hide my gianormous grin.

Later his blocker was hanging over the boards, and I bumped it by accident, as I skated by, and he was like "Sorry!" I said, "No problem buddy, it's alright."

He was a cute little kid. Makes me smile just thinking about it. :)

Number two; doesn't really involve a kid, per say...

The guy who refereed the game I did today noticed afterwards, that I had a pump. He knew it was a pump right away, which was cool.

He started asking a whole bunch of questions; "Do you wear it when you ref? ... Is it difficult to use?" stuff like that. After a bit he told me his 9 year old daughter has type I diabetes too. Then he asked questions about other stuff. I let him know I'd had diabetes since I was 3, and that I can relate a little to how she feels.

He told me that she felt like "her life was over," and all that. 9 year olds eh?

But she knew that *shiver* a Jonas Brother has diabetes too. I told him yeah, and there've been hockey players with it too. So it only really limits you if you let it. "For instance," I used myself as an example, "I want to be an NHL referee, and" I kicked my ref bag "I'm not gonna let it stop me."

He smiled (because he could see his daughter'd be fine), and told me "Right on buddy, and you got no fat on yeh."

I told him a pump is just a small adjustment from syringes (because it pretty much is), and that it's all a comfort thing. That it's pretty simple. You just dial in your blood sugar, tell it your carbs you're eating, and it does the rest.

He was all curious about knowing carbs in food and stuff. He thought it'd be hard. I told him that stuff at the dinner table - like mashed potatoes, for example - is guess work, but you get the hang of it. I said that stuff you eat regularly becomes habit. "Like, I have the same thing for breakfast every day; toast and peanut butter," not true, I have that most days, but I was making a point. "The package says how much is in how ever many slices of bread. The first time you check, the second time you're checking to make sure, and soon you know exactly how many carbs are in two slices of toast, and peanut butter." 40g at my house, just by the by. :P (42g at Ashley's, depending on the bread.)

I saw the realization click in, and he was a little more relaxed about it. I finished out by just saying that if they want to learn more about it, or think it's a good idea, to just talk to their doctor.

He piped up, "I might just have her talk to you," in a 'she needs to see someone with it that is getting along fine,' sort of thing. It warmed my heart. :)

We talked a bit more, and he learned that I'd only been using my pump a month or two. I think he got a little more comfortable with the idea of his daughter maybe getting one from that. Just the fact that I talked about it, and found it pretty easy, and could explain stuff to him in ways he could understand, in that amount of time, helped.

Anyway, so there's my "Wee Ones" stories.

:)

*When the puck crosses into a team's offensive end and one or more players of the attacking team (with the exception of the player in control of the puck) already have both skates in the offensive end. (The "offensive end* is indicated by the blue-line.)

**When a player running the bases makes it to a base without being tagged my the player holding the ball.

I was just being a dick, 'cause it's fun...

Equipment Issues

So I'm going to play some hockey on Boxing Day, with Miss Ashley's family. (WOO!) And to be sure I was ready, I got me a mouth guard, 'cause "shot blockers shouldn't leave home without one." (I'm quoting myself, and I like the feeling.) Am I right? 'cause I mean getting hit in the face (slash teeth) with a stick or the puck would be quite painful, whether you have one or not; but the mouth guard can SAVE your TEETH.

So I got one of those "mold to your mouth" deallies, in the hopes of it working awesomely and all; and isn't it JUST my luck... after going at it a good half dozen (I'm talking regular dozen, not the baker's dozen. six and a half goes would be challenging) times, I can't make it fit, for the life of me. It hurts the crap out of my teeth, and if I don't bite down just the right way, my teeth bleed.

Mmm... How do you spell "fun"?

Solution!

Not wearing a mouth guard. Yes, I have thought on that. This would have me REALLY test my reflexes. I'd need to turn my head, or get a hand up, just in time; EVERY TIME. No pressure, right?

OR

Go for it and deal with the painful mouth issue for however long the game is.

My goodness, what a tough choice... I'm gonna go for "start with it, and see if I can deal. If not; 'bye bye' mouth guard, 'please please' reflexes for the remainder of the game."

My biggest disappointment would be that I paid a wad of dough for a mouth guard which does not work, and I cannot return. THAT's stupid...

Thoughts anyone?

Tangents and Ideas Alongside My Thoughts and Feelings - Part 1

I'm back, once again...
Hello, hello.

Firstly; yes I do have something to keep me writing (or typing) in here every day. This is thank you to Ashley (in case you haven't picked up on it yet; she's my girlfriend).

It involves writing "letters," and each letter each day is to someone who is designated by a list.
For example "someone who [blank]."
Now, as each person is different, I found it difficult to put someone to each day, so I decided it best to not start writing said letters until I decided on a person for each day. This may take some time, so do be patient.

Next...

Dad mentioned to me today if I felt like I should have continued with golf. Like if it'd've been a good path for the future and what not.
I said, "Yeah, and I felt the same about hockey."
Ironically, I had golf on me from goodness knows when. I used to beat the snot out of a yellow golf ball (which matched up REALLY well with those damn dandelions, let me tell you) in my grandparents back yard.
One time my grandpa

Back in Business!

Hurray for this! We are TRULY back in business (for which we can greatly thank Apple).
I have a brand spankin' new keyboard and It is SO awesome. Lord it's comfy. It makes me think my (upcoming) transition to Mac will be even more awesome than I'd hoped. PC's been REALLY getting on my nerves, and my laptop crashing over - well; nothing, was the last straw.
I plan to keep my desktop tower until I can afford myself an iMac, and the first thing on the purchase list (technologiwise) now is a MacBook something or other. It'll make life much easier.
Miss Ashley and I can go back to the good old days, where I could go on Twitter in my room, and do stuff while Direct Messageing her, rather than (since the laptop crashed) my running up and down the stairs to send text messages. (Please note that I have ZERO issue with text messaging, just I have NO cell signal in my house, so my cell has to stay up a floor, which is SUCH a pain in the ass.
Trust me on this one.

I may have to go soon. My (soon to be) brother-in-law's friend has signed on the Playstation Network, and I may be wanted for a Call of Duty rematch. Now don't get me wrong, I didn't beat him, but I did do better than the pair of them expected.

Where was I? No clue...

Anyway... Tomorrow night, after my chiropractor appointment (yes, I see the chiropractor) I'm off to Burlington. The first thought to SOMEone's mind will be, "Burlington Coat Factory! Haha..." This can, undoubtly be blamed on The Office, and Michael Scott. I'm off to Burlington for a referee camp, where NHL, AHL, and CHL scouts (for referees) will be, to see if I've got what it takes to be (what I really want to be as a career) a referee.
Fingers crossed pleases everyone. Oh yes, I AM nervous. As in "sick to my stomach, might throw up sometime soon," nervous, which is no fun at all. Again, trust me... Four days away from all I know; friends (the few that there are), family (except for Liz on Thursday night and Friday morning) and most importantly, my beautiful girlfriend Ashley. I really do wish she could join me; not only because she'd really help my nerves, but because I love her and I'm really going to miss her.

Out of things to say now. :$

Later!

Rules are Just That; Rules

I'm both a umpire (baseball) and referee (hockey). In both of these positions; I'm there (I won't say paid, 'cause that sounds bad even though it's true) to enforce the rules, and penalize those who choose not to follow them.

Hockey (in some minor league levels) has a fifty minute curfew time. Meaning you have fifty minutes on the ice, and then you have to get off for the next group.

Then there's all the other technical ones that I really don't need to get into at the moment. But know that I do know them, and enforce them.

Baseball is similar with the curfew time. You get two hours on the field. You cannot start an inning after those two hours. Now, you cannot play on the field at, or after dusk; for reasons of safety AND common knowledge. (I say "common knowledge" as there is no such thing - scientifically - as a "common sense." Blame it on high school science.)

So, say an inning takes - on average - 40 minutes to play (at the Minor National level). Sunset is at 8:11. You finish an inning (doesn't matter which one) at 7:45. Is there time for a full other inning before sunset?

The correct answer is, "No."

Therefore, "No coach. The game is over because those are the rules." Deal with it.

Some people...